Chapter 1 CHAPTER ONE.

CHAPTER ONE

MILICIENT STARK

“I’m sorry, Milly, but we have to let you go.” Chef Julius avoids my gaze as he breaks the news.

Goosebumps break over my skin, and sweat beads on my forehead beneath my messy bun. My skin prickles with heat under the layers of clothes, but I don’t pull off the sweater. Instead, I adjust my huge glasses, bite my lip, and whisper, “Why? Did … Did I do something wrong?”

“No, no, you were perfect, everyone loves you, but … it’s just … business is not flowing as it should, and we need to cut back.” He explains, still not looking at me.

My throat is dry, and my tongue feels heavy. My eyes sting with tears, but I don’t cry. I’m not going to cry here. I’m already weird enough.

“I am sorry, Milicient. I hope this can be enough to hold you off till your next job.” He pulls crumbled dollar bills and squeezes them in my hand.

“Thank you.” I smile, even though I know this can’t do much for me. I have so many bills to pay. 

Miles and Emma need new outfits for picture day, and they’re also going to the zoo in a few days. I also need to get their hair cut. I need new shoes, too, and this can barely buy me new shoes.

I linger in the backroom for a second, wallowing in my self-pity. Exhaustion sinks into my bones, but I don’t have time to waste. The smell of sanitiser and oil lingers. I need to get another job immediately, but who would hire a sixteen-year-old girl with nothing to her name?

Determined, I walk past the counter, untie my apron and hang it carefully.

“Milly!” Maggie calls.

I look at her, push back my nerves and smile, “Hi, Maggie.”

We worked together well.

“I heard you were laid off. I’m sorry, Milly.” She whispers, pulling me into a hug.

I linger in her hold for a second before I pull away, “I have to go. See you around, Maggie.”

“You should know,” she says, stopping me in my tracks. “Chef didn’t want to fire you. We all like you, but there have been complaints about you from that preppy girl you go to school with. She claimed you messed up her order a couple of times, flirting with her boyfriend and brother. She called you a weird geek who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Chef ignored her, but then she went straight to management, wrote a lengthy email, a very descriptive one, from what I heard. Anyway, I’m sorry.”

My heart sinks.

Poppy Barnes. 

She got me fired.

“You didn’t hear it from me,” Maggie adds.

I don’t respond. I can’t bring myself to respond. I should be used to Poppy’s bullying by now, but I’m not.

The doorbell rings, jangling like glass in my skull/

Maggie scoffs, “Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.”

I follow her gaze and freeze as Poppy Barnes walks in with her entourage.

My skin flushes hard, and my eyes sting. She got me fired. This was my lifeline, and she has taken it from me, for what?

“Oh, baby,” Poppy laughs, holding on to her boyfriend’s arm. 

Romeo Sinclar. The school’s star Quarterback.

My chest twists. I want to vanish.

I need to get out of here, so I do. I head for the door and don’t look back, not even when Poppy starts to yell my name, well, the creative name she calls me. I only stop running when I’ve gotten to the busstop.

The tears flow freely, and my chest caves in painfully. Despair settles on me like a wet blanket, and I want to rip out my heart. I don’t know what to do. Sixty dollars can’t hold out for long.

After waiting in the sun for what seems like an hour, the bus finally drives past.

I smile at the Driver warmly and sit by the window as usual. 

Twenty minutes later, I step out, wave at him, and walk home.

My home is a small, struggling bungalow. It’s one of the things Dad left before he passed. I am constantly grateful for it, because we don’t have to pay rent. My gaze runs over the overgrown grass. I need to find time to cut it.

I push the door open and step into warmth. The smell of a home-cooked meal fills the space, and my stomach grumbles.

“Milly!” Emma screams and runs towards me.

“Hi, baby.” I smile and catch her. I try not to grunt. She’s not five anymore. She’s eight, and a big girl now. Soon, I won’t be able to carry her.

She hugs me tight, and I try not to melt.

“Where’s your brother?” I ask, carefully placing her down.

“In the kitchen.” She tells me, eyes glowing.

We walk to the kitchen, and I find my mom there, stirring something as Miles chops up onions.

“Our little chef.” I tickle him, and he giggles, “Hi, Milly.”

“You’re back early.” Mom frowns at me.

My smile falls, and I whisper, “I got laid off.”

Pain fills her eyes, but she nods, squeezes my hand softly and gets back to cooking.

I spent the rest of the evening cleaning up the kitchen and cross-checking our homework. I make sure to sleep early, so I can wake up on time.

The next morning, as the sun starts to rise, so do I. I wake the twins, which takes a while, then I bathe them and feed them breakfast. Mom finally wakes, so I leave them with her while I quickly get ready for school. I pack my hair in a tight bun, drag on my navy blue sweater and put on faded jeans. I wear my worn-out shoes and rush the kids out.

“Bye, my loves!” Mom waves us goodbye.

I quickly drop the twins off at school and exhale in relief when I finally step into the crowded hall of Riverfield High.

First period is in five minutes, so I push through the crowd to my locker, only to be knocked down hard from behind.

“Hello, millipede.” Poppy smiles at me, eyes flashing with cruelty.